Hearty Mushroom and Oat Groat Soup

Whole Grain Naked OatsIt’s a great time of year to get your natural source of vitamin D in mushrooms. Snuggle up with a warm cup of this soup!

1/2 ounce dried mushrooms, rehydrated
3/4 cup boiling water
1/4 cup olive oil
3 medium leeks, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound mixed fresh mushrooms
6 cups vegetable stock or canned low-sodium broth
1/2 cup oat groats, soaked overnight and drained
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 medium parsnip, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon minced thyme
1/2 teaspoon minced rosemary
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons minced parsley

In a heatproof bowl, soak the dried mushrooms in the boiling water until softened, about 20 minutes. Remove the mushrooms and reserve the liquid separately. Thinly slice the mushrooms.

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot. Add the leeks and garlic and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Thinly slice the fresh mushrooms and add them and the reconstituted mushrooms to the pot. Cook, stirring, until the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add the reserved mushroom liquid and the stock, oat groats, carrots, parsnip, balsamic vinegar, thyme and rosemary and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over moderately low heat until the oat groats are tender, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the parsley. Serve piping hot.

Recipe adapted from foodandwine.com.

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Parsnip, Mushroom and Leek Gratin

parsnips n pumpkins

Potatoes aren’t the only root vegetable that works well as a gratin.

1 1 /2 pound parsnips
1 tablespoon butter plus more for buttering dish
2 tablespoons olive oil
4-5 ounces mixed fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
3 leeks, white and light green parts, cleaned and sliced lengthwise
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1/3 cup dry white wine
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Slice parsnips about 1/4 inch thick on an extreme angle so as to get the largest slices possible. Butter a 12 x 8 inch baking dish and preheat the oven to 400 ° F.

In a medium skillet, over medium high heat, warm the butter and olive oil. Add mushrooms and leeks along with a pinch of salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until they release all their liquid and begin to brown. Add thyme and white wine and cook, stirring, until wine evaporates. Set aside.

Begin to layer the ingredients into the dish beginning with a single layer of parsnip slices, followed by salt and pepper, followed by half of the leek/mushroom mixture and half the Parmesan. Repeat with parsnips, more salt and pepper, the remaining leek/mushroom mixture, and most of the remaining Parmesan, reserving a little for the top.

The final layer should consist of the remaining parsnips. Pour the cream over and push down with the back of a spoon to submerge everything as much as possible. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan on top and cover. Bake for half an hour and check for tenderness. When the parsnips are nearly tender, uncover and continue to bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes or until the top begins to brown and all the cream has been absorbed. Let sit for about 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Serves 6 to 8.

Recipe from TheKitchn.com.

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Butternut Squash Gratin

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 (2-pound) butternut squash
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
1/2 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter. Peel and seed squash, then thinly slice using a hand slicer, such as a Benriner or mandoline slicer. Layer squash in baking dish, sprinkling some of salt and pepper between each layer. When baking dish is half filled, sprinkle 1/2 of cheese and thyme over squash. Continue layering squash with salt and pepper. Pour cream evenly over top layer, then sprinkle with remaining cheese and thyme. Cover baking dish and bake until squash is tender, about 45 minutes. Remove cover from baking dish and preheat broiler. Broil gratin until top is browned, about 4 minutes. Serve.

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Kia’s Tahini Balsamic Salad Dressing

dressing fixings

Here’s an easy, quick homemade salad dressing with wonderful, complex flavor.

Although this salad dressing has ten or eleven ingredients listed, it’s actually really simple to make, and can be infinitely adjusted to suit your tastes, or what’s in your pantry/fridge!

1 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
4-5 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated
2-3 tablespoons Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, tamari or soy sauce
1 tablespoon finely diced fresh herbs (basil, thyme, rosemary, etc)
1 tablespoon stone-ground or Dijon mustard
1/4 cup hemp oil (optional)
35 twists on the pepper grinder
3 lemons, juiced (or limes)
2/3 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1-inch nub of ginger, finely grated (optional)

homemade salad dressing

Shake, shake, shake, and you’re done!

Combine everything in a quart mason jar, screw lid on tight and shake vigorously for about two minutes. Done!

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Sweet & Sour Pork Chops with Quick Pickled Leek or Garlic Scapes

4 (8-ounce) pork chops, bone-in, 3/4″-1″ thick
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chops, both sides, until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Place in oven and roast until cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 140 degrees F, about 8-10 minutes.

To make the sweet-and-sour glaze, combine balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over medium heat; season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Serve pork chops immediately with sweet-and-sour glaze.

These pork chops go great with Asian Pickled Leek Scapes!

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Triticale and Squash Risotto

winter squash: delicata, sweet meat, sugar pie pumpkin, lower salmon river

Which squash is your favorite in triticale risotto? Let us know in the comments below!

2 cups triticale berries, soaked for at least 8 hours and drained thoroughly
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 medium butternut, acorn or delicata squash, peeled, seeded and diced
2 x 14-1/2-ounce cans chicken broth
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1/2 cup white wine
3/4 pound winter greens (kale, chard, collards), trimmed and leaves chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Cover triticale with fresh water and boil for 20 minutes. Drizzle melted butter over squash on a jelly roll pan; toss. Bake 25-35 minutes or until tender and browned. Bring broth and water to a simmer in a saucepan. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large pot; add onions and cook 4-6 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add wine and cook 1 minute more. Stir in drained triticale and cook until wine is absorbed. Reduce heat to medium and gradually add broth mixture half a cup at a time, stirring, until liquid is absorbed and triticale is tender, 12-17 minutes. Stir in the squash, greens, thyme, salt, pepper and nutmeg; cook, stirring, 4-5 minutes or until greens are tender. Stir in grated parmesan. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.

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Easy Baking Powder Drop Biscuits

Soft White Wheat Flour

Try these biscuits with thyme and cheese, plus Nash’s flour. Yum!

1 cup Nash’s hard red wheat flour
1 cup Nash’s soft white wheat flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 cup chilled butter, diced
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
Grated cheese, to taste (optional)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a bowl. Cut in the cold butter with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add milk a little at a time, stirring lightly between additions. Fold in thyme and cheese.

Drop the batter by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until the tops are golden. Makes 12 biscuits.

We thank CookieeMonster13 at AllRecipes.com for this recipe.

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Grilled golden beets with brown butter vinaigrette on greens

Golden beets, bunched

Imagine the brilliant colors in this salad: sunny oranges and reds from the beets, toasty golden brown of the butter, and rich greens of the lettuces. Beautiful!

1 bunch golden beets (or any other beets), washed and cut into 1-inch slices
(Keep the tops; cut and reserve for salad)
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons smoked Hungarian or sweet paprika
1 tablespoon ground fennel
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 sprigs thyme or 2 tablespoons ground thyme
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or vine vinegar
1 tablespoon water
1 bunch spinach
1 bunch reserved beet tops
1 bunch red leaf lettuce
1 bunch arugula
1 bunch romaine lettuce
1 bunch Italian parsley

In a bowl, combine olive oil, paprika, fennel, coriander, garlic and thyme. Add beets and let marinate for 2 hours.

Preheat a grill pan. Remove the beets from the bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill on medium heat for 10 minutes until they turn brown, then transfer to a bowl. Meanwhile cook butter until it turns brown and starts to have a nutty smell (about 5-10 minutes). Add the sherry or vine vinegar and water. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Add the vinaigrette to the beets and serve it on the bed of greens.

Greens
Chop the spinach, beet tops, red leaf lettuce, arugula, romaine, and parsley into bite-sized pieces and combine in a bowl. Put a serving of greens on each plate and top with grilled browned buttered beets.

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Vegetarian Lasagna

radishes with greens

You can add all sorts of veggies to this lasagna. Let us know your favorite additions!

1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 bunches baby turnips, sliced
4 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil
1 12-ounce can crushed or chopped tomatoes
2 8-ounce cans tomato paste
1 12-ounce can tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon salt, plus additional for boiling noodles
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
12 lasagna noodles
3 cups fresh spinach
1 bunch radishes, sliced
2 cups chickpeas, cooked
3/4 pound mozzarella cheese

Sauté onion, garlic, baby turnips, parsley and basil. Add crushed or chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and all the spices (fennel seeds, oregano, thyme, cumin, salt and pepper). Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside until ready to assemble.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in a baking dish and layer 4 lasagna noodles lengthwise over the sauce. Spread another cup of sauce, then a layer of spinach with a layer of sliced radishes. You can add other fresh veggies (including the turnip tops) to the layers, then spread some of the chickpeas on top. Repeat the layers, then top with cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 25-30 minutes. Cool for about 10 minutes. Serves 12.

We thank Karolina’s Kitchen for this recipe.

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Meat Lasagna

Spinach in the field

Nash’s spinach goes quite well with Nash’s pork sausage for a lovely lasagna.

Nash’s spinach goes quite well with Nash’s pork sausage for a lovely lasagna.

Nash’s spinach goes quite well with Nash’s pork sausage for a lovely lasagna.

Nash’s spinach goes quite well with Nash’s pork sausage for a lovely lasagna.

1 pound Nash’s sweet or hot Italian sausage
3/4 pound Nash’s breakfast sausage
1/2 cup minced onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 12-ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 8-ounce cans tomato paste
1 12-ounce can tomato sauce
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon thyme
2 teaspoons cumin
1 tablespoon salt, plus additional for boiling noodles
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
4 tablespoons fresh parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil
12 lasagna noodles
1 bunch fresh spinach, washed
3/4 pounds mozzarella cheese

In a skillet cook sausage, onion and garlic till browned. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce and water. Season with fennel seeds, oregano, thyme, cumin, salt, pepper, parsley and basil. Simmer covered for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for about 10 minutes. Drain noodles in cold water. Set aside until time to assemble.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. To assemble, spread 1/2 cup meat sauce in bottom of backing dish. Arrange 4 noodles lengthwise over it. Pour 1 cup meat sauce evenly over noodles, then a layer of fresh spinach. Repeat with 4 more noodles, meat sauce and spinach. Top with cheese and cover with foil.

Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes. Cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. Serves 12.

We thank Karolina’s Kitchen for this recipe.

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